Archive | May, 2011

Mobile carriers are a jealous lot. When one gets to launch something new, the others all clammer for one, too. And no one wants to be the last one to finally offer its customers the latest and greatest technology. So, you can imagine what the executives at Sprint have been talking about after watching the parade of Tegra 2 dual-core phones get launched by other carriers. AT&T had the Motorola ATRIX 4G, Verizon had an online launch of the Motorola DROID X2 and T-Mobile offered its faithful the T-Mobile G2x.

According to an anonymous source for Android and Me who has proven himself accurate in matters pertaining to Sprint in the past, next month the nation’s third largest carrier will offer a re-designed version of the Motorola ATRIX 4G. One difference will be the display which will be stretched to 4.3 inches for Sprint from the 4 inches on the AT&T model. The unit will also be designed to look more like the HTC EVO 4G with a kickstand on the back of the phone.

There is a sense of karma, even in the cell phone world. Sprint customers were the first to be offered a 4G phone and next month, if this reliable source for Android and Me is correct, they will be the last among the top four U.S. carriers to be offered a handset with a Tegra 2 processor.

Power consumption management in Android might be significantly flawed and it’s a software issue, if we are to believe Russian tech blogger Eldar Murtazin who summarizes reports about battery consumption issues in a tweet claiming that all dual-core Android phones running on a version prior to 2.3.4 suffer from battery problems.

The software flaw has reportedly been fixed in the latest 2.3.4 version of Gingerbread. Battery fixes have been made in the latest Gingerbread, but reports about the final outcome are controversial at best. Judging from previous reports it’s only 0.03% of all Android phones that employ 2.3.4, so it’s mostly Nexus S users who got to test the version, but chances are if you have a dual-core phone with Google’s platform – your phone could improve after the update.

We’ve been hearing promises about battery life improvements with the arrival of dual-core architectures on cell phones, but while we’ve seen some of the amazing new features like 1080p full HD video playback and new inspiring graphics in games, poor battery life is still an issue. The big expectations about optimized software seem to have largely remained only expectations: dual-core heavyweights like the Motorola Atrix 4G and the T-Mobile G2x have somewhat disappointing battery life, while overheating is becoming a common issue after the HTC ThunderBolt was suffering from it and now some initial reports about overheating of the Samsung Galaxy S II have come in.

Theoretically, dual-core architectures should allow you to squeeze more juice from your battery as the second core could be employed for a variety of tasks, but even simple garbage collection handed to the spare core should make for a perceptive improvement. Finally it all comes down to your final say on the matter, what’s your experience with dual-core Androids and battery life? Don’t hesitate to share your opinion in the comments below.

While it might not give us a precise clue as when to expect the U.S. launch of the HTC EVO 3D, according to Phones Limited, Vodafone will launch its variant of the device in the U.K. on July 11th. Vodafone plans on calling the device the HTC EVO in the U.K., taking off the “3D” part of the name that the phone will be called in the States. Despite the change in name, the version that Vodafone will make available to U.K. customers on contract is said to be similar to the version that Sprint will eventually launch on U.S. soil, except it will be without the 4G WiMax connectivity that the Sprint version features.

This means that not only will both U.K. and U.S. users of the device be able to snap pictures with the dual-lens 5MP camera, they both will be able to view them in 3D without glasses on the model’s 4.3 inch qHD display. Android 2.3 is onboard while a 1.2GHz Snapdragon dual-core processor brings the speed.

There is no word yet on pricing of the handset, but this is something that Vodafone might reveal during an official introduction. In the meantime, U.S. cell phone fans are eagerly waiting to hear an official launch date for the HTC EVO 3D on this side of the Atlantic. We recently reported that a leaked screenshot revealed a June 4th launch date at Radio Shack, but the retailer’s ads for this time period do not show what would surely be a heavily advertised device.

Ever since the Gingerbread build of the Android OS was announced, owners of some of the Froyo flavored models of the Motorola DROID line starting wondering if their particular handset would be getting a taste of Android 2.3. In response to an inquiry about which DROID models would be moving up the Android food chain, a response apparently coming from a Motorola employee said that Android 2.3 would be made available to the Motorola DROID 2 and DROID 2 Global, the Motorola DROID X and the Motorola DROID Pro.

Those who just bought or are planning on buying the Motorola DROID X2 have no worries as the manufacturer has already announced that the phone will be getting Gingerbread. But those still clinging to their original Motorola DROID will seemingly be stuck with Android 2.2 as Time Magazine’s 2009 Gadget of the Year just doesn’t have the processing power to handle the newer version of the Android OS.

Granted that we still rarely find LG producing many QWERTY based Android smartphones, it seems like US Cellular is about ready to finally start selling yet another one in the form of the LG Genesis, which closely reminds us of the canceled LG enV Pro for Verizon.

LG now has the clamshell device on its web site showing that it’s bound for US Cellular, but there is no word yet on its pricing. Customers will especially like the fact the handset is sporting not one, but two WVGA touchscreens – the external one being 3.5”, while the internal one sizes up at a reasonable 3.2”. In addition, it also features things like a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 5-row QWERTY keyboard, 5-megapixel camera, 8GB microSD card, DLNA multimedia sharing, and powered by Android 2.2 Froyo.

For those who adore Verizon’s many LG enV style handsets in the past, they’ll particularly take a liking with the LG Genesis – even more when it employs that distinguishable form factor combined with the Android experience. Sure we’re interested in price, but we’re also eager to know when it’ll become available with US Cellular as well.

Hey! It is time to loosen up a little bit and have some fun, don’t you think? If you agree with us, you might be pleased to know that on June 3 (7:00 – 10:00 PM), Samsung and phoneArena will be hosting a meetup in San Francisco, and that you, dear reader, are also invited to join the party.

The star of the show will be the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, which attendants will have the chance to get up close and personal with. This is your opportunity to try out Samsung’s tablet ahead of its release, and if you are lucky enough, you may receive one as a gift as well. Yes, you heard that right! Because a party is nothing without giveaways, Samsung is giving away a number of its latest tablets and smartphones:

5x Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

2x Samsung Droid Charge

2x Samsung Nexus S 4G

1x Samsung Infuse 4G

But the list of gifts does not end with only these awesome gadgets – $25 Media Hub vouchers and Samsung branded screen cleaners will be given away to every single participant.

Attending the event is absolutely free, and all you have to do is to register here. We wouldn’t think twice if we were you – this is the perfect opportunity to have some quality time in the company of smartphone enthusiasts. Also, bear in mind that the number of visitors is limited, so register now. The exact venue where the meetup will take place is yet to be announced, but wherever it is, we hope to see you there!

After doing some research, Google has discovered that 40% of those using Google Maps would access the service from a mobile device. Previously, those using a mobile browser would be re-directed to a link to the Google Maps mobile app so that you could download the software on your handset and use it that way.

But how would you like to have all of the features of the desktop version of Google Maps on your mobile browser? Now, if you go to maps.google.com from your mobile browser, you will be able to see your current location and search for places nearby you with suggestions. Clickable icons of popular businesses and transit stations will appear on your screen and you can get directions to a location depending on the mode of transportation you are taking (car, walking, bicycling, etc.). You can also view Place pages with ratings, photos and more. Your starred locations can be accessed along with ‘My Maps’. All you have to do is opt-in to share your location. Google Maps for your mobile browser is also ” platform independent” so you always get the same experience and most up-to- date features no matter which phone you are using.

The dedicated mobile app for Google Maps is still available and will probably still be used by the majority of cell phone users. But if you want to have the desktop version on your phone instead, you now have the choice to use it.

Even though we’re starting to see a steady stream of handsets offering next-generation dual-core processors, the Motorola DROID X2 has the prestigious title of being Verizon’s very first handset to boast a dual-core 1GHz processor, and rightfully so, it’s only fitting for us to run a couple of benchmark tests to initially better gauge its capacity.

By no means is this handset a slouch, even though some might be put off by the fact that it’s lacking 4G LTE connectivity, but despite that omission, the Motorola DROID X2 has some serious hardware under the hood. Running the Quadrant app first, we’re first impressed to see it completing the test in such a quick manner – thus giving us test scores of 2,398 and 2,442. Sure it might not be as mind blowing as the results we’ve seen with the LG Optimus 2x and Samsung Galaxy S II, it’s still nonetheless respectable and better than most others out there. Furthermore, we ran the AnTutu Benchmark test and it ultimately gave us an overall score of 3,382, which places in alongside other high-caliber devices like the Motorola XOOM and LG Optimus 2x…

Undeniably, it can be argued that the Motorola DROID X was the single most successful handset released last year for Verizon – especially when it arrived on the scene exuding that larger than life status. Obviously, it’s one gargantuan handset that doesn’t mess around, even more when it’s filled to the brim with some of the good old high-end specs you’d normally expect to find. Fast forward to roughly a year later, we’re seeing its successor starting to make its rounds boasting some upgraded hardware – while still retaining its predecessor’s distinguishable looks.

Peeking at its retail packaging, we’re hard pressed to expect finding anything inside due to its compact look, and at the same time, it just barely seems big enough to even accommodate the handset itself. Regardless of that, the handset is fitted inside along with the wall charger, microUSB cable, and usual set of documentation. Sadly though, there isn’t anything else out of the ordinary in terms of additional accessories with the handset, but then again, that’s basically what we come to expect nowadays…

The attraction with Acer’s new tablets is undeniably great taking into consideration the aggressive price point they’re tackling, but there’s still always that problem of having to keep up with the strenuous demand. Acer is undoubtedly a big time player in the computer business, but now that they’re focusing a lot of attention in the tablet market, they’ll need to keep pace in order to blossom into a sizable opponent in this competitive new market.

Interestingly enough, Acer’s part suppliers have hinted that they’re seeing stronger than expected sales with Acer’s ICONIA TAB line, albeit, production at this point might limit potential shipments. In fact, it’s more than “likely” for Acer to ship 1 million units of its Android-based tablets in the spring, but the issues boil down to Acer’s former CEO Gianfranco Lanci refusing to hire non-Taiwanese engineers to step up ICONIA TAB deliveries.

Looking into the numbers alone, Acer saw 300,000 tablets shipped in April, which 70 percent consisted of its ICONIA A500 and Windows powered W500 models. As for the rest, shipments seem to mainly come from its ICONIA SMART phone and tablet hybrid. And of course, we all know at this point that they’ve delayed the release of their 7-inch model – the ICONIA TAB A100.